The Mysteries of Udolpho

But, to return to the men, whom I saw obscurely beyond the

door, and who did not suffer me to remain long in suspense, concerning

their design. They all rushed into the room, and surrounded me, though

not before I had snatched up my sword to defend myself. But what could

one man do against four? They soon disarmed me, and, having fastened my

arms, and gagged my mouth, forced me through the private door, leaving

my sword upon the table, to assist, as they said, those who should come

in the morning to look for me, in fighting against the ghosts. They then

led me through many narrow passages, cut, as I fancied, in the walls,

for I had never seen them before, and down several flights of steps,

till we came to the vaults underneath the castle; and then opening

a stone door, which I should have taken for the wall itself, we went

through a long passage, and down other steps cut in the solid rock, when

another door delivered us into a cave. After turning and twining about,

for some time, we reached the mouth of it, and I found myself on the

sea-beach at the foot of the cliffs, with the chateau above. A boat was

in waiting, into which the ruffians got, forcing me along with them,

and we soon reached a small vessel, that was at anchor, where other men

appeared, when setting me aboard, two of the fellows who had seized me,

followed, and the other two rowed back to the shore, while we set sail.

I soon found out what all this meant, and what was the business of these

men at the chateau. We landed in Rousillon, and, after lingering

several days about the shore, some of their comrades came down from the

mountains, and carried me with them to the fort, where I remained till

my Lord so unexpectedly arrived, for they had taken good care to prevent

my running away, having blindfolded me, during the journey, and, if they

had not done this, I think I never could have found my road to any town,

through the wild country we traversed. After I reached the fort I was

watched like a prisoner, and never suffered to go out, without two or

three companions, and I became so weary of life, that I often wished to

get rid of it.' 'Well, but they let you talk,' said Annette, 'they did not gagg you

after they got you away from the chateau, so I don't see what reason

there was to be so very weary of living; to say nothing about the chance

you had of seeing me again.'